Refraction is a term in physics that refers to the change in direction of a wave when it passes from one medium to another. This phenomenon is most easily recognised in the case of light waves.

Examples Of Refraction

An example of refraction is when an object underwater appears to be in a slightly different position to the eyes of a person above the water line. Another example is when a solid object is half in and half out of a body of water and it appears to be broken at the water line.

Spearfishing and Refraction

Tribal hunters who specialise in spearfishing must take refraction into account when they are aiming at fish swimming in the water below them. They learn to aim at a position where the fish is not… at least according to their eyes. They learn to not believe their eyes and to act against what seems obviously true to their senses. They aim for where the fish appears to not be, in order to hit the fish.

Refraction is not only important for tribal spearfishers, children dunking for apples at Halloween, and backpackers diving into remote lagoons.

Refraction also works as a helpful metaphor for how to approach getting what you desire in life.

The Law Of Refraction – When Truth Is NOT Where It Seems To Be

If a spearfisher refused to take the effects of his actions in the real world into account he would go hungry! If he continued to stubbornly fling his spear at the position that his senses, his intuitive hunch, told him his prey was, and he would fail to catch supper!

Similarly, if we keep on doing what we believe should or must be effective despite again and again failing to get the result we desire… we need to change.

When real-world evidence dictates, we need to use The Law Of Refraction to our advantage and act contrary to our primitive hunches.